Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel is unbeaten in his three starts for the No. 11 Gators. / Kim Klement, US PRESSWIRE

by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports

by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports

1. Shields up: In the part of the galaxy known as the Southeastern Conference, defense still dominates. Two defensive units that rank in the top 20 nationally will be on display as No. 3 LSU visits No. 11 Florida (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) in one of the spotlight games on an action-packed day. Points will be at a premium, and the offense that makes fewer mistakes will likely prevail. LSU QB Zach Mettenberger & Co. have made more of late, and ubiquitous Gators LB Jonathan Bostic could cause more miscues. Look for the Tigers to try to get WR Odell Beckham involved early to help them establish TB Kenny Hilliard in their preferred power game. Florida QB Jeff Driskel will have to make plays under duress with LSU DEs Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo trying to turn him into a sandwich. But he also can't go to the other extreme and be overly cautious with too much reliance on TB Mike Gillislee.

2. Impulse power: Of course, there are teams that can put points on the board in the SEC as well. Two of them, No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 South Carolina, square off in Columbia, S.C., (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) with the winner assured of at least a share of the early lead in the East Division. Georgia's freshman TB duo of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall will command the most attention from the host Gamecocks defense, which will likely mean a lot of work for LBs Quin Smith and Shaq Wilson. But they can't forget about Bulldogs veteran QB Aaron Murray, either, though he'll be without WR Michael Bennett (knee) for the remainder of the season. South Carolina QB Connor Shaw will need to find his groove earlier than last week at Kentucky. He must also get TB Marcus Lattimore involved right away as well, though that might not be as easy with Georgia LB Jarvis Jones plugging the gaps.

3. Warp drive: Then there's the Big 12, where offenses are taking flight at a whole other level. The prime-time showdown of No. 7 West Virginia at No. 9 Texas (7 p.m. ET, Fox) might require an oxygen tank for Gus Johnson by the time it's through. An encore by WVU QB Geno Smith in his first Big 12 road test is asking a lot, but it might be needed if his defensive teammates don't improve. Still, with weapons such as WRs Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey as well as J.D. Woods, Smith can keep up in a fire fight. He rarely gives the ball away, though Texas CB Quandre Diggs will do his best to change that. Longhorns QB David Ash hasn't been quite as prolific. But he has been just as good at taking care of the ball, and WR Jaxon Shipley has developed into a solid primary option. Texas could also opt to play for clock control with TBs Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron, more for Mountaineers LB Terence Garvin to think about.

4. Phasers on stun: No. 14 Oklahoma takes the field for the first time since being stunned at home by Kansas State. The bad news for OU is it has to go to No. 24 Texas Tech (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC), and the Sooners haven't left Lubbock with a win since 2003. The Red Raiders handled their Big 12 opener against Iowa State and seek to maintain their momentum with a difficult October ahead. Oklahoma fans hope the bye week helped iron out protection issues in front of QB Landry Jones. He'll need to produce, with the help of TB Damien Williams and WR Kenny Stills, but they can't do it if Texas Tech DT Kerry Hyder is spending too much time in the backfield. Red Raiders QB Seth Doege and WR Eric Ward are connecting on a regular basis, which will likely earn attention from Sooners CB Aaron Colvin (team-high five pass breakups).

5. Photon torpedoes: Washington will be the next team to try and stop the full spread at No. 2 Oregon (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Huskies hope to follow their upset of Stanford with another key Pac-12 North win, but this one would be an even bigger stunner. They'll have to adjust their defensive approach to handle Oregon's high-speed weapons, most notably RBs Kenjon Barner and DeAnthony Thomas. But Washington LB Thomas Tutogi could cause problems for Ducks QB Marcus Mariota if he gets past the line of scrimmage. Huskies QB Keith Price must maintain his poise in hostile territory. But if he can avoid the likes of Oregon LB Michael Clay, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins and WR Kasen Williams could find room to operate.

6. Transporter room: No. 10 Notre Dame beams over to nearby Chicago for renew acquaintances with Miami (Fla.) at Soldier Field (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC). The Fighting Irish hope to move a step closer to a major bowl invitation, but the Hurricanes will be just as eager to prove their 4-1 start is a sign the program is moving in the right direction. Notre Dame has leaned heavily on its veteran defense, with outstanding leadership from LB Manti Te'o and timely contributions from DE Stephon Tuitt. They'll try to put the clamps on Miami QB Stephen Morris before he finds WRs Phillip Dorsett and Rashawn Scott. Notre Dame QB Everett Golson remains a work in progress, but he might have success if he can get TB Cierre Wood and TE Tyler Eifert involved early. DE Shayon Green has emerged as a leader on the Hurricanes' front line.

7. Cloaking device: Ohio State might be invisible as far as the postseason and the Big Ten championship are concerned, but the Buckeyes are getting plenty of high-profile TV exposure. They get another chance at home against No. 20 Nebraska (8 p.m. ET, ABC). A win for the Cornhuskers on the road would give them a huge lift in the Legends Division. They enter with confidence after rallying to beat Wisconsin last week, but QB Taylor Martinez and TB Rex Burkhead will want to get on the scoreboard faster this week. They'll keep Buckeyes LBs Ryan Shazier and Etienne Sabino busy. Ohio State QB Braxton Miller has done nearly all the heavy lifting, and the absence of TB Jordan Hall (knee) won't help matters. He'll have to make his reads quickly before Nebraska DT Baker Steinkuhler gets to him. WR Corey Brown can help.